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Friday

Welcome to Friday! As we cruise into the weekend:

• How space heaters may impact your utility bill

• Ideas to stay warm without cranking up the heat

• De-stress right at your desk

• Must-know tips to winterize your home

Can Space Heaters Lower Your Utility Bill?

The winter months often come with a spike in electricity, gas, or other utility bills as we turn up the temperature and heat our homes.

To help avoid a higher bill, some people opt to keep their entire house at a lower temperature and use a space heater in a specific room. But does this actually help save on utility costs?

A lot of it depends on how you use a space heater.

For example, research shows that using a space heater in just one or two rooms consumes less energy than a central heating system, so that can help you save on costs. However, if you’re using space heaters in every single room, it can be expensive if that’s your sole method of heating your home.

When comparing different methods, CNET found that when running a space heater for eight hours instead of central air from October to March:

• Electricity: A space heater would save $72.40

• Heating oil: A space heater would save $231.68

• Propane: A space heater would save $159.28

• Natural gas: A space heater would be $36.20 more expensive

If you keep the heat at a slightly lower temperature than you’d like, it can be a good, cost-saving option to move the space heater and use it to toasty up the room you’re in.

It’s important to note that savings will depend on a wide range of factors, including the materials your home is made of, the climate, the form of energy used to heat your home, and so forth.

And while a space heater can be a good supplement, it’s also important to be cautious if you live in a climate where it gets particularly cold and you have pets or your pipes are at risk of freezing — in this case, you may want to keep it a little warmer and not rely on space heaters as much.

To ensure safety, be sure not to leave your space heater unattended and keep it away from other objects!

Stay Warm in the Winter Months Without Cranking up the Heat

There are few better feelings than getting snug and warm inside when it’s chilly outdoors. However, cranking up the heat isn’t always an option.

Here are a few tips to stay toasty without adjusting the thermometer:

• Bundle up — under layers, cozy sweaters, and blankets

• Enjoy a warm beverage

• Try a hot shower or bath

• Invest in a heating blanket

• Consider a space heater or fireplace to add heat in a particular area

• Opt for insulating curtains and other tricks

• Use a hot water bottle or heating pad in bed (just be sure not to keep a heating pad on all night while you’re asleep)

• Snuggle up with your pets

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How to Winterize Your Home

Bundling up and keeping the heat at a lower temperature aren’t the only ways to help save on higher utility bills in the cold months — winterizing your home can go a long way to keeping the warmth in and the cold out.

Plus, these steps will help minimize any weather-related maintenance and repairs!

• Seal your windows and doors: Cold can creep in through the cracks of your windows and breeze under the doors. Lean on weatherstripping, caulking, film, and draft stoppers to avoid impacts from the chill outdoors.

• Switch the direction of your ceiling fans: Make sure your fans rotate clockwise in the cold months. This pushes warm air down to the rest of the room.

• Keep your plants warm: Pull any plants away from windows that may be too drafty. You can also protect outdoor plants with things like mulch for lower plants and paper wrapping for trees.

• Check your exterior: Look for any cracks, clogged gutters, missing shingles, and the like. This can prevent bigger problems when winter weather hits.

• Protect piping: You can use foam insulation heat tape, or heated cables to keep pipes from freezing. Pay close attention to pipes in the attic, crawl spaces, garage, and other areas that may not be heated like the rest of your home. Be sure all external hoses are disconnected and irrigations, outside pipes, sprinklers, and such are drained.

Parting Thoughts

• ✅ Did You Know: The coldest time of day is right before the sun rises, as heat is still being lost from the day before the sun begins to come up.

• 🎁 Our Holiday Self-Care Picks: Don’t forget to check out our 2024 gift guide, a collection of thoughtful, wellness-focused products that help you feel your best, inside and out. Shop our gift guide here!

• 🙋🏼‍♀️ Snapshot Of The Day: We'd love to see moments from our readers lives that they are proud of! If you recently accomplished an achievement, experienced a joyful moment, or are proud of a picture you have taken, be sure to capture it on camera and send it to us for a chance to be featured next week! 

• 💭 Final Self-Care Thoughts for Today: As the weather continues to get colder, find ways to stay cozy this winter!

Enjoying Note to Self?

Know of a great self-care tip or article you'd love to share with the community? Want to send us pictures of you completing one of your self-care rituals? Email us at [email protected]!